Tubular skylight diffuser element and method of manufacturing a diffuser element

Abstract

A tubular skylight is provided, comprising a roof mounted element for collecting exterior light, a ceiling mounted element, and a tube connecting the roof mounted element and the ceiling mounted element. The skylight includes a diffuser element mounted in the ceiling mounted element for distributing the exterior light in a room. The diffuser element includes a first diffuser pane having a translucent bottom portion and a sidewall portion with a translucent light path zone. The tubular skylight has means for affecting the luminance of the light exiting the diffuser such that the luminance of light exiting through the light path zone has a different luminance than light exiting through the bottom portion. The ceiling mounted element and the diffuser element provide a light passage from the light path zone to the room by a free space adjacent the light path zone.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) comprising;
 a roof mounted element ( 200 ); 
 a ceiling mounted element ( 300 ); 
 a tube ( 400 ) connecting the roof mounted element ( 200 ) and the ceiling mounted element ( 300 ); 
 a diffuser element ( 340 ), the diffuser element ( 340 ) being mounted in the ceiling mounted element ( 300 ), the diffuser element ( 340 ) including a first diffuser pane ( 341 ), the first diffuser pane ( 341 ) having a translucent bottom portion ( 342 ) and a sidewall portion ( 343 ) with a translucent light path zone ( 346 ); 
 wherein the tubular skylight ( 100 ) has means for affecting the luminance of the light exiting the diffuser such that the luminance of light exiting through the light path zone ( 346 ) has a different luminance than light exiting through the bottom portion ( 342 ), wherein the bottom portion ( 342 ) is substantially planar and has a width-to-height ratio of greater than 6:1, wherein the bottom portion ( 342 ) adjoins the sidewall portion ( 343 ) at a transition line ( 347 ), wherein the sidewall portion ( 343 ) is substantially parallel to a central axis ( 348 ) through the diffuser element ( 340 ), and wherein the ceiling mounted element ( 300 ) and the diffuser element ( 340 ) provide a light passage from the light path zone ( 346 ) to the room by a free space ( 344 ) adjacent the light path zone ( 346 ). 
 
     
     
       2. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion ( 343 ) has a substantially planar cross-section in a plane extending radially from the central axis ( 348 ). 
     
     
       3. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion ( 343 ) is inclined between 25° to −10° in relation to the central axis ( 348 ). 
     
     
       4. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the transition line ( 347 ) is one of chamfered and rounded. 
     
     
       5. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular skylight ( 100 ) comprises a reflector ( 390 ), wherein the reflector ( 390 ) has a reflective surface ( 392 ) facing the light path zone ( 346 ), and wherein the reflective surface ( 392 ) resides at an acute angle in relation to the central axis ( 348 ) and with a vertex above the bottom portion ( 342 ). 
     
     
       6. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element ( 340 ) includes a second diffuser pane ( 345 ) and a spacer element that spaces the second diffuser pane ( 345 ) from the first diffuser pane ( 341 ) and provides a closed air space between the first and second diffuser panes ( 341 ,  345 ). 
     
     
       7. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element ( 340 ) includes a ledge ( 349 ), wherein the ledge ( 349 ) is protruding from the sidewall portion ( 343 ), and wherein the light path zone ( 346 ) is disposed between the ledge ( 349 ) and the bottom portion ( 342 ). 
     
     
       8. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element ( 340 ) is circular, an external thread ( 350 ) is disposed on the sidewall portion ( 343 ), and a cooperating internal thread ( 308 ) is disposed in the ceiling mounted element ( 300 ). 
     
     
       9. A tubular skylight ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the light path zone ( 346 ) is more translucent than the bottom portion ( 342 ). 
     
     
       10. A diffuser element ( 340 ) for mounting in a tubular skylight ( 100 ) in a room, comprising:
 a diffuser element ( 340 ) mounted in a ceiling mounted element ( 300 ), the diffuser element ( 340 ) including a first diffuser pane ( 341 ) with a bottom portion ( 342 ) and a sidewall portion ( 343 ), wherein the bottom portion ( 342 ) is translucent, wherein the sidewall portion ( 343 ) has a light path zone ( 346 ) that is more translucent than the bottom portion ( 342 ), wherein the bottom portion ( 342 ) is substantially planar having a width-to-height ratio of greater than 6:1, wherein the bottom portion ( 342 ) adjoins the sidewall portion ( 343 ) at a transition line ( 347 ), wherein the sidewall portion ( 343 ) is substantially parallel to a central axis ( 348 ) through the diffuser element ( 340 ), and wherein a free space ( 344 ) adjacent the light path zone ( 348 ) defines a light passage from the light path zone ( 346 ) to the room.